The Passions - Thirty Thousand Feet Over China - 1981

The Passions
Based in Shepherds Bush, west London, The Passions' music was grounded mainly in Barbara Gogan's voice, and Clive Timperley's delicate echoplex guitar work.
Before forming in 1978, most of the group's members had played in other groups
Timperley was formerly with the 101ers, whilst drummer Richard Williams and singer/guitarist Barbara Gogan were in the punk rock outfit, The Derelicts.
The Passions' first single, issued in March 1979, was "Needles and Pills", which assisted in gaining a recording contract with Fiction Records.
The Passions were predominantly a guitar band but they fitted in with the spirit of the times, being part New Romantics, and part "European grey".
Michael and Miranda, the band's debut album was released in 1980.
Singles "Hunted", and "Swimmer" followed, and then their major charting song, "I'm in Love with a German Film Star".
Before "Swimmer" was issued, Bidwell and Barker left the band, the former joining The Wall.
David Agar took over duties on the bass guitar.
The band's second album, 30,000 Feet Over China, was released in August 1981.
It included previously released A-sides and several brand new recordings.


The lyrics for "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" were written by Barbara Gogan about a one time roadie for The Clash and the Sex Pistols, Steve Connelly, who had minor roles in several German films.
It was produced by Pete Wilson, who was the in house producer for Polydor Records.
According to Wilson "It was a song that almost seemed to write itself".
The music weeklies declared the song 'Single of the Week' while it was named 'Peoples Choice' on Capital Radio.
This led to two Top of the Pops appearances.
The single peaked at 25 in the UK Singles Chart.

Album Track

TRACKLIST
01. The Passions - I'm In Love With A German Film Star [04:01]
02. The Passions - Someone Special [04:07]
03. The Passions - The Swimmer [03:33]
04. The Passions - Strange Affair [03:29]
05. The Passions - Small Stones [05:38]
06. The Passions - Runaway [03:04]
07. The Passions - The Square [03:31]
08. The Passions - Alice's Song [03:13]
09. The Passions - Bachelor Girls [02:23]
10. The Passions - Skin Deep [04:16]